Sedation Dentistry - What is Sedation Dentistry ?
Advances in dental technology now allow early detection and treatment of dental disease. This has created a situation in which very little discomfort exists during regular dental visits. Advances in the medications used to prevent dental pain and anxiety have further debunked the myth that a dental visit is something to fear. That having been said, there are still individuals who need extensive dental care or possess significant fear or anxiety when it comes to going to the dentist. Sedation involves the use of agents like nitrous oxide, anxiolytics, sedatives, narcotics, and/or other agents to cause relaxation, sedation, and many times amnesia within the patient. Sedation dentistry is an approach to help control dental fear or anxiety, through the use of these agents or specific techniques, which in turn allow patients, who historically would just avoid going to the dentist, to comfortably receive their dental care. Patients who have an extremely busy schedule and require multiple procedures may elect to be sedated for a single long appointment rather than multiple shorter ones.
Guidelines for training of dentists in the proper and safe use of these agents and techniques are established by the American Dental Association. These guidelines are used by all American Dental Schools, Postdoctoral, and Continuing Dental Education Programs. All general dentists can not use every agent and/or technique to cover the entire spectrum of conscious sedation. Washington State law divides the sedation spectrum into three different categories. Each of these categories are defined and classified by training requirements, procedures for administration, equipment and emergency medications, continuing education, and necessity for permit. Licensure is established at the State level. The educational and licensure requirements are rigorous in order to assure that dentists are adequately prepared to offer the various forms of sedation in a safe and secure fashion.